Fender Rumble Club

[bdplaid]

I am thinking about the Tiki hut thing that bdplaid I believe it was is talking about... He must be in the gulf coast somewhere as well... LOTS of venues around here do that, a thatched hip type tiki roof, and typically some sort of concrete deck, with those epoxy coated cedar slab tables and metal chairs. Lots of accoustically bouncy surfaces. I never noticed bass being boomy in those venues so much as the highs being overly bright and echo prone. Like playing in a steel and concrete shop building. I had always attributed that to the through that perhaps the thatch absorbs low frequencies. I am curious, and this question is aimed at bdplaid or whomever posted up about the tiki hut / hip roof problem... The inside of the tiki roofs you are talking about, is it exposed thatch or is there a substrate under the thatching like plywood, or worse, corrugated steel that is bouncing your bass frequencies back at you causing the booming? Another possibility is that the venues he is doing have softer surfaces lower down, combined with the thatching maybe that is absorbing the highs too much? I admit I am just guessing here, I really have no clue. Trying to understand my observations and why they differ from yours...

Sarasota and thereabouts.
Roofs are plywood underneath, all angles funneling to a point in the middle. Floors are usually concretes, sometimes wood decking. Usually all sides open to the elements, but there is one - the place with the new boat-docking feature in the dining room - that has heavy duty exterior grade curtains around the 3 sides behind us. Also makes it hot. And that latter one is the worst sounding.

 

[Big Hoss]

Sarasota and thereabouts.
Roofs are plywood underneath, all angles funneling to a point in the middle. Floors are usually concretes, sometimes wood decking. Usually all sides open to the elements, but there is one - the place with the new boat-docking feature in the dining room - that has heavy duty exterior grade curtains around the 3 sides behind us. Also makes it hot. And that latter one is the worst sounding.

I think the plywood substrate is part of the problem. In the Galveston Bay area, all the Tiki roof bars I have seen are straight thatch, no substrate at all. T Bone Toms in Kemah is pretty typical of the venues I see around here. I will try to get some photos as soon as I can get over there and give you an idea of what the conditions are like here...

I don't remember where it was, but before Hurricane Ike blew it out, there used to be a Mexican joint / Tiki bar I think somewhere near Bacliff TX that had a plywood substrate thatch roof and concrete flooring that was just gobs awful accoustically... You'd hear every last thing you didn't want, and couldn't hear what you did want...

 

[Big Hoss]

Okay guys, it's been several pages since we've had tons of Rumble pics, and since this is MY post, I am gonna post up pics that interest me...

The posted pics of the Rumble V3 500 combo with 210 cabs in order are... (bdplaid I can't find a pic of his combo with cab anywhere... so he got left out...).

Grayhook was first... I fully blame him, and Linin for making me want the 210 cab so bad, and my wife for saying "get it honey, it's your V-day gift..." But hey, you gotta admit, that just looks awesome standing proud like that!
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Our next winner in who matched the V3 500 combo to a 210 cab is M Kersh. Yeah like that pic didn't cause even more GAS.. What's worse is now I want a Jazz to go with it!
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Number three on the list is crucislancer... Oooh yeah that looks awesome! And yep, Still want a Jazz...Link Removed

Next, mine came in, and maybe I added to other peoples GAS problem a bit...

Our latest entry into the who stacked the V3 500 combo on top of a V3 210 cab is none other than Tad... I must say his pic not only gives you amp / cab GAS, but serious bass GAS... How does he store all of them?

Man if I had the bass collection / family photo like that, it would be my desktop wallpaper at work...

 

[crucislancer]

Okay guys, it's been several pages since we've had tons of Rumble pics, and since this is MY post, I am gonna post up pics that interest me...

The posted pics of the Rumble V3 500 combo with 210 cabs in order are... (bdplaid I can't find a pic of his combo with cab anywhere... so he got left out...).

Grayhook was first... I fully blame him, and Linin for making me want the 210 cab so bad, and my wife for saying "get it honey, it's your V-day gift..." But hey, you gotta admit, that just looks awesome standing proud like that!
Link Removed
Link Removed

Our next winner in who matched the V3 500 combo to a 210 cab is M Kersh. Yeah like that pic didn't cause even more GAS.. What's worse is now I want a Jazz to go with it!
Link Removed

Number three on the list is crucislancer... Oooh yeah that looks awesome! And yep, Still want a Jazz...Link Removed

Next, mine came in, and maybe I added to other peoples GAS problem a bit...

Our latest entry into the who stacked the V3 500 combo on top of a V3 210 cab is none other than Tad... I must say his pic not only gives you amp / cab GAS, but serious bass GAS... How does he store all of them?

Man if I had the bass collection / family photo like that, it would be my desktop wallpaper at work...

Outstanding review! Now that my amp GAS is cured, my bass GAS has returned, and I see a lot here that is giving me GAS

 

[bdplaid]

I didn't take a pic. I'm thinking it's going back.

Also, there is one of the offending rooms:

 

[bdplaid]

Here's a question: I LOVE my GK 115-III with the Rumble 500. Only problem is the 115 is considerably louder than the combo's speakers. Any idea how to equalize the two? For all my knowledge, I don't think it's possible, but thought I'd ask.

 

[Tad]

Our latest entry into the who stacked the V3 500 combo on top of a V3 210 cab is none other than Tad... I must say his pic not only gives you amp / cab GAS, but serious bass GAS... How does he store all of them?

Man if I had the bass collection / family photo like that, it would be my desktop wallpaper at work...

Thanks, Dave. That is a nice collection of photos that you gathered up.

I store them like this.

That way they are all easily accessible in the music room. I usually just go down the line and play a different one each day.

 

[Linnin]

Here's a question: I LOVE my GK 115-III with the Rumble 500. Only problem is the 115 is considerably louder than the combo's speakers. Any idea how to equalize the two? For all my knowledge, I don't think it's possible, but thought I'd ask.

You'd need to modify the GK's input with a volume pot.

 

[Big Hoss]

Thanks, Dave. That is a nice collection of photos that you gathered up.

I store them like this.

That way they are all easily accessible in the music room. I usually just go down the line and play a different one each day.

Man, those really defy gravity!

 

[Big Hoss]

I didn't take a pic. I'm thinking it's going back.

Also, there is one of the offending rooms:
View attachment 566424

Maybe I am wrong, but perhaps it is the boats in your audio enviroment causing so much of the problematic boom you are talking about?

 

[BeerSuds]

I'm in! Just picked up a Rumble 40 today and also own a 2x8 I paired up with a Shuttle 6.2 about a year ago. A CTM-15 also enjoys sitting atop the 2x8, and I'm guessing a V3 200 head might make a perfect pair. Or a 200 head and the new 112 cab....ugh, the gas never ends!!!

Any way, I'm really liking the "light as a feather" 40 so far! Can't wait to be able to take it out on the deck in the nicer weather! Here's a couple of pics:

 

[bdplaid]

You'd need to modify the GK's input with a volume pot.

I don't think a simple volume pot would work, heat and electrical dissibation because it's more voltage coming from the amp. However, you just reminded me of the "L-Pad," which will work. thanks!

h

 

[bdplaid]

Does anyone know the efficiency of the 500 combo's speakers? what dB at 1W per Meter? This would be helpful in matching cabs.

 

[bdplaid]

... and this is an ad directly from our own TB pages:
Tiki Hut Homepage

 

[Linnin]

I'm in! Just picked up a Rumble 40 today and also own a 2x8 I paired up with a Shuttle 6.2 about a year ago. A CTM-15 also enjoys sitting atop the 2x8, and I'm guessing a V3 200 head might make a perfect pair. Or a 200 head and the new 112 cab....ugh, the gas never ends!!!

Any way, I'm really liking the "light as a feather" 40 so far! Can't wait to be able to take it out on the deck in the nicer weather! Here's a couple of pics:

Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Beer Suds! You are member #368
I have the Rumble 350 head and a pair of Rumble 112 Neos like your 2x8. Like you, I have been thinking about getting a new V3 Rumble 200 head.
Rumble On!

 

[BeerSuds]

Welcome to the Fender Rumble Club, Beer Suds! You are member #368
I have the Rumble 350 head and a pair of Rumble 112 Neos like your 2x8. Like you, I have been thinking about getting a new V3 Rumble 200 head.
Rumble On!

Thanks for the number! I was looking at getting one of the 112 neos but then found the 2x8 on clearance at GC. Figured I could add another or a 112 later, but for what I use it for, the 2x8 is plenty. Very sweet little cab. Have you lined your 112's at all?

 

[Linnin]

Thanks for the number! I was looking at getting one of the 112 neos but then found the 2x8 on clearance at GC. Figured I could add another or a 112 later, but for what I use it for, the 2x8 is plenty. Very sweet little cab. Have you lined your 112's at all?

I haven't yet, but I am going to. I have 2 1/2" eggcrate acoustic foam for the back panels, but need more of the 1/2" sonic barrier for the top & tweeter side panels. Floor and port side panels to remain naked.

 

[Bent77]

So a question about the V2 15w, it seems a little "tinney" or hollow
Now i get the obvious of being used to the sound of a 500 through a 410, which i like

To get a decent tone out of the 15 I have to roll the tone almost all the way off on the bass and cut the treble almost completely at the amp.
Does egg crating help take some of that out?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

So a question about the V2 15w, it seems a little "tinney" or hollow
Now i get the obvious of being used to the sound of a 500 through a 410, which i like

To get a decent tone out of the 15 I have to roll the tone almost all the way off on the bass and cut the treble almost completely at the amp.
Does egg crating help take some of that out?

Simply put, no.

The Rumble 15 is a great little package for portability. It can hold it's own with any other small practice combo as a personal practice tool and headphone amp. But expecting big bass from that package, is like trying to get blood from a stone.

Lining a cab can take some "honk" out of the mids. Bracing a larger cab can tighten the bass, and take out some boom in the low mids. None of that will help with the tinny quality you're hearing.

Instead of lining the walls, you could try stuffing the cab with poly fill. Cut some pieces the size of the back wall. Place the cab on its back, and start laying the sheets of fill in there loosely, until the box is pretty much filled.

This has the same effect as making the box larger, and may fatten the low end up a little.

But the fact is, 8" drivers that play reasonably loud and sound good with electric bass, are expensive. The drivers in an Arnopol Crazy 8, TC Electronic BG208 or Rumble Neo 208, cost more than your whole Rumble 15. None of the single 8 practice amps in the Rumble 15's class sound "big".

 

[Linnin]

So a question about the V2 15w, it seems a little "tinney" or hollow
Now i get the obvious of being used to the sound of a 500 through a 410, which i like

To get a decent tone out of the 15 I have to roll the tone almost all the way off on the bass and cut the treble almost completely at the amp.
Does egg crating help take some of that out?

The V2 Rumble 15 is a sealed cab, yes? Pull the speaker and stuff loosely with polyfil fiber. Fill the box but don't pack it. That will take the hollow boxiness out, and tighten up the mids. On my Rumble 25, also with the 8" driver, I run the controls as follows: Vol - 1 o'clock; Bass - 1 o'clock, Mid - 9 o'clock, and treble also at 9 o'clock. That's the best sound I can get out of it. I have a piece of 1 1/2" eggcrate acoustic foam that I should line the back panel with, and if I have any off cuts of 1/2" Sonic Barrier large enough to line the top and non-port side, I'll do those too.